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A Soul's First Day 
in Heaven 



-' jfrepared by 

J^M. HUMPHREY 




"Blessed are they that do his commandments, 
that they may have right to the tree of life, 
and may enter in through the gates into the 
city." (Rev. 22:14) 



TRUE GOSPEL GRAIN PUB. CO. 

1118 West Spring St. 
LIMA, OHIO 

1917 



-f^ 






Copyright 1917 by 
J. M. HUMPHREY 



JUN 20 1917 

©a.A467529 



(To my friend. Ellen Carlson.) 



J. M. Humphrey. 






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1 I'm go ing home fare-well, vain world, With all thy toil and tears! 

2. Thy i ron hand has pressed me hard Since life's un-cloud- ed morn, 

3. My blush ing face Thou oft didst batlje In sor- row's raid-night dew; 
■i. I've ver-come and won the prizd, Thro' grace which Je - sus gave, 




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My task is done, the crown is won, I'm freed from all my fears. 

And all a long my wind - ing path Set here and there a thorn 
And is sued with each pass - ing day Temp-ta - tions not a few. 

And now a vie tor stand com-plete O'er Death, and Hell, and Grave 

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My tri - als here are o'er. My sor-rows are no more, And I'm nearing the 
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The race is near-ly run, My triumph has be- 



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This little volume 

is affectionately dedicated to the 

sacred memory of 

Nellie Little 
Adelia N. Arnold 

AND 

Emma Rice 

Three devoted daughters of Zion 

who recently went 

to the homeland of the soul 



FOREWORD 

There is hardly a subject to be found 
that will revive and stimulate the faith 
and hope of God's people like reading 
and thinking of heaven ; therefore, for 
this specific reason we felt divinely im- 
pressed to prepare this little volume. 

However, the greater amount of its 
contents has been selected from the writ- 
ings of other authors. But to avoid a 
sameness, and also a tendency to detract 
from the interest of the reader, we have 
omitted the numerous quotation marks, 
or author's name following each para- 
graph. 

Praying God's richest blessing to rest 
upon it, we send it forth with prayer 
and love. Yours for Him, 

J. M. H. 

March, 1917. 



CONTENTS 



chapter page 

Foreword 5 

I. Why Fear to Die? ... 9 
II. Love Is the Attraction of 

Heaven 12 

III. The Nature of Heavenly 

Happiness 14« 

IV. The Nearness of Heaven . 17 
V. The Last Night Upon Earth 19 

VI. A Disembodied Spirit . . 24 

VII. The Flight to Heaven . . 29 
VIII. The Soul^s Arrival in 

Heaven 37 

IX. Meeting Jesus .... 40 

X. The Beauty of Heaven . 46 

XI. The Land Where Beauty 

Never Dies .... ^ 49 
XII. The Superior Glory of 

Heaven 50 

XIII. Meeting Loved Ones . . 52 

XIV. Pursuits in Heaven ... 57 

XV. Jottings from Heaven . . 60 

XVI. In the Temple , , . . 66 

XVII. A Testimony Meeting in 

Heaven 70 

XVIII. A New Arrival's Evening 

Oration 81 

XIX. His Inquisition to the 

Reader 85 



A SOUL'S FIRST DAY 
IN HEAVEN 

Chapter I 

Why Fear to Die? 

Who would not readily lay aside his 
overworn garment at night, if certain 
of being clad with rich and royal attire 
in the morning? Who would not cheer- 
fully lay himself down to sleep in his 
bed, could he safely depend upon waking 
and rising again with renewed health, 
vigor and beauty? Who would not joy- 
fully relinquish a mean and miserable 
cottage for a season, that so it might be 
adorned with all the glory and magnifi- 
cence of a splendid palace? O believer, 
comfort thyself in the Lord Jesus, and 
contentedly cast off at death this gar- 
ment, and body, which is incommodious 

9 



10 A Soul's First Dai/ in Heaven 

and troublesome on several accounts in 
its present state, assuring thyself thou 
shalt receive this same garment again, 
abundaflitly better and beautified, ren- 
dered white as the snow, and illustrious as 
the light. 

Let it not concern thee, that the 
earthly tabernacle will shortly be taken 
dcJwn, tor the Lord will build it up again, 
yea, convert it into a temple that shall 
stand forever in all its glory. What 
though the several senses suffer decay, 
and the eyes in particular will soon be 
closed, no more to behold the light below ? 
Grieve not at tliis, inasmuch as these eyes 
will be formed anew with additional 
beauty, and with them thou wilt behold 
the King in His glory, and behold Him 
for thyself ; or, as the Psalmist expresses 
the same thing, ^'Behold His face in 
righteousness." 

The ears now, it may be, are almost 



Why Fear to Die? 11 

deaf, and will soon be entirely stopped, 
but hereafter they shall hear, with ever- 
lasting delight, the harmonious songs 
of saints and of angels. 

The tongue, which now falters thini 
weakness, and in a little time will speak 
no more, shall then be formed anew, and 
tuned for praise, joining in the melo- 
dious Alleluias of the blessed above. 
The hands, now weak, shall then be made 
strong to receive, and forever retain, 
immortal palms of victory. 

With the feeble feet, now scarce suffi- 
cient to support the body, thou wilt then 
follow the Lamb to the realms of glory, 
and travel the streets of the heavenly 
Jerusalem. 

In a word, the whole body, though laid 
in the grave, and turned into dust, shall 
some day arise, and shine as the sun. 



Chapter II 

Love Is the Attraction of Heaven 

What is heaven to me, but God? God 
who is hf e, and Hght, and love, communi- 
cating Himself to blessed spirits, per- 
fecting them in the reception, possession 
and exercise of life, and light, and love 
forever. These are not the accidents, but 
the essence of that God, who is in heaven 
and all to me; should I fear that death 
which passeth me to infinite essential life? 
Should I fear a darksome passage into 
a world of perfect light ? Should I fear 
to go to love itself? Think, O my soul, 
what the sun's quickening light and heat 
is to this lower corporeal world ! Much 
more is God, even infinite life and light 
and love to the blessed world above. 
Doth it not draw out thy desire to think 
of going into a world of love? When 

12 



Love the Attraction of Heaven 13 

love will be our region, our company, 
our life: more to us than the air is for 
our breath, than the light is for our sight, 
than our food is for our life, than our 
friends are for our solace, and more to 
us than we are to ourselves, and we more 
for it as our ultimate end, than for our- 
selves ! 

O, excellent grace of faith that doth 
foreshow this world of love ! Shall I 
fear to enter where there is no wrath, no 
fear, no strangeness, no suspicion, no 
selfish separation, but love will make 
every spirit as dear and lovely to me as 
myself, and me to them as lovely as them- 
selves, and God to us all more amiable 
than ourselves and all? Where love will 
have no defects or distances, no damps 
or discouragements, no discontinuance or 
mixed disaffection? 



Chapter III 

Nature of Heavenly Happi/ness 

Expect not, therefore, Christian souls, 
to meet in heaven with a paradise resem- 
bhng your gardens ; nor with flowers Hke 
those that enamel and adorn your par- 
terres ; nor with fruits like to them that 
hang upon your trees ; assure yourselves 
that God will show you things infinitely 
more pleasing and delightful, and more 
permanent. 

Fancy not to find there a city built 
like ours, which shall really be enriched 
with silver and gold, pearls and precious 
stones; but hope for something more 
noble and magnificent than all the rich- 
est and most stately cities in the world, 
where God will cause you to see, not only 
the beauty of silver, the purity of gold, 
the whiteness of pearls and the bright 

14 



Nature of Heavenly Happiness 15 

lustre of precious stones, but also some- 
thing far more beautiful and pure, and 
more perfect white, a greater brightness, 
and a more ravishing lustre. 

Think not to receive any material 
crown, or to sit upon thrones like to those 
of the Kings and Princes of the earth, 
but aspire after something more glorious, 
and which cannot be shaken. 

God will not only make us shine forth 
as the sun and stars, and clothe us with 
the brightness of the glorified saints and 
angels ; but He also promises to make us 
like to himself. He shall not only satisfy 
us with the fatness of His house, cause 
us to drink of the rivers of His pleasure, 
fill us with riches, enlighten us with His 
brightness, clothe us with His honors, 
and crown us with His glory; but He, 
himself, will become our meat and our 
drink, our treasure, our sun and our 
glory, if I may so speak, to satisfy and 



16 A SouVs First Day in Heaven 

make us completely happy. God will, 
as it were, dissolve Himself into rivers 
and seas of divine and unspeakable 
pleasures. 

But that I may not be misunderstood 
by too bold a metaphor, it shall suffice me 
to say with St. Paul, "That God will be 
all in all" (1 Cor. 15 :28), that is to say. 
He will dwell and make his abode in us, 
in respect to His essence ; and will cause 
us to feel in us His glorious presence, 
in as great a measure as a finite and lim- 
ited nature, such as ours, is capable of. 



Chapter IV 

The Nearness of Heaven 

The nearness of heaven is suggested by 
the epithet "Veil.'' Christians, there is 
only a veil between us and heaven ! A 
veil is the thinnest and frailest of all 
conceivable partitions. It is but a fine 
tissue, a delicate fabric of embroidery. 
It waves in the wind ; the touch of a child 
may stir it, an accident may rend it ; the 
silent action of time will moulder it away. 
The veil that conceals heaven is only our 
embodied existence; and, though fear- 
fully and wonderfully made, it is only 
wrought out of our frail mortality. So 
slight is it, that the puncture of a thorn, 
the touch of an insect's sting, the breath 
of an infected atmosphere, may make it 
shake and fall. In a bound, in a moment, 
in the twinkling of an eye, in the throb 

17 



18 A Soul's First Day in Heaven 

of a pulse, In the flash of a thought, we 
may start mto disembodied spirits, ghde 
unabashed into the company of great 
and mighty angels, pass into the light 
and amazement of eternity, know the 
great secret, gaze upon splendors which 
flesh and blood could not sustain, and 
which no words lawful for man to utter 
could describe ! 

Brethren in Christ, there is only a veil 
between you and heaven ! To us, it is 
not a solemn, but a delightful thought, 
that perhaps nothing but the opaque, 
bodily eye prevents us from beholding 
the gate which is open just before us, 
and nothing but the dull ear prevents us 
from hearing the ringing of those bells 
of joy which welcome us to the heavenly 
land. 



Chapter V 

The Christianas Last Night on EartK 

I KNEW my hours were numbered, and 
that I should see no other sunrise on this 
weary world ; and gently said, intolerant 
of suspense, "My wife, my darling, I 
am going* home ; God wills it and I am 
going home tonight." I feared the first 
shock af my words upon the tenderest 
of human hearts, a wife's, a mother's 
heart. But softly laying her hand upon 
my burning brow, she said, "I know it 
all, beloved husband. God hath spoken 
to me also, and has given these brief 
hours to my wrestling prayers. Enough, 
to-morrow and all after-life for tears, 
to-day and all eternity for love." 

And leaning then her ear close to my 
lips, her soft cheeks touched mine, we 
spoke or thought of things long past, 

19 



20 A Soul's First Day in Heaven 



and holy memories that glowed in sun- 
light thru the mist of years, or cast 
their solemn shadow over the hills ; those 
anniversaries that sanctify so many Sab- 
baths in a pilgrim's life. 

That night I spent in prayer. The 
lamp that hung suspended in my chamber 
slowly paled and flickered in its socket. 
But my soul was lit up with a clearer 
purer Hght, the daybreak of a near eter- 
nity, which cast its penetrating beams 
across the isthmus of my life, and 
fringed with gold the mist of childhood, 
and revealed beyond the outline of the 
everlasting hills. And thus long hours 
of peace, prayer and praise passed noise- 
lessly, as gilded slumber; though that 
night was more to me than years of hf e, 
if life be measured, its true gauge, by 
love. I feasted upon love; I drank, I 
breathed nothing but love. The time- 
piece striking nine recalled me; for I 



Christian's Last Night on Earth 21 

felt the involuntary thrill it sent thru 
my wife's heart, as kneeling by my side 
she clung: and almost unawares my lips 
repeated words she loved in other days 
though long forgotten. 

They opened a deep fountain, and her 
tears fell quick as rain upon my hand 
— hot tears on a cold hand — so slug- 
gishly my blood crept now. And I said, 
"Call the children and let them read some 
of God's words." All other would have 
jarred that night, but His are tender 
in their strength, and in their very ten- 
derness are strong. And straightway, 
like a chime of evening bells melodiously 
over broken waters borne, they read in a 
low voice most musical some fragments 
of the book of life. Then there was 
silence: and my children knelt around 
my bed — our latest family prayer. Lis- 
ten — the clock is striking eleven. Then 
I whispered to my wife, "The time is 



22 A SouVs First Day in Heaven 

short; I heard the Spirit and the Bride 
say 'come,' and Jesus answering, 'I come 
quickly.' '' And as she wiped the death 
dews from my brow, she faltered, "He is 
very near," and I could only faintly say, 
"Amen, Amen.'' And then my power of 
utterance was gone. I beckoned and was 
speechless, I was more than ankle deep 
in Jordan's icy stream. My children 
stood upon its utmost verge gazing im- 
ploringly, persuasively, while the words, 
"Dear, dear father," now and then would 
drop like dew from their unconscious lips. 
My gentle wife, with love stronger than 
death, was leaning over those cold gliding 
waves. I heard them speaking, but could 
make no sign ; I saw them weeping, but 
could shed no tears; I felt their touch 
upon my flickering pulse, their breath 
upon my cheek, but I could give no 
answering pressure to th^ fond hands 
pressed in mine. So rapidly the river- 



Christian's Last Night on Earth 23 

bed shelved downward, I had passed or 
almost passed beyond the interchange of 
loving signs into the very world of love 
itself. The waters were about my knees ; 
they washed my loins ; and still they deep- 
ened. Unawares I saw, I listened — Who 
is he who speaks? — a Presence and a 
Voice. That Presence moved beside me 
like a cloud of glory ; and that Voice was 
like a silver trumpet, saying, "Be of good 
comfort, it is I, fear not." 

And whether now the waters were less 
deep, or I was borne upon invisible arms, 
I know not; but methought my mortal 
robes now only brushed the smoothly 
gliding stream, and like the edge of a sun- 
set cloud the beatific land before me lay. 

One long last look behind me, grad- 
ually the figures faded on the shore of 
time, and as the passing bell of midnight 
struck, one sob, one effort, and my spirit 
was free. 



Chapter VI 

A Disembodied Spirit 

And I was now a spirit, new born into a 
spiritual world. Half dreaming, half 
awake, I lay a while in an elysium of 
repose : as glides a vessel long beset with 
boisterous winds into some tranquil port, 
and all is still, except the liquid rippling 
around the keel : so in a trance I lay. But 
gradually, as wakes an infant from its 
rosy sleep to find its mother keeping by 
its side enamoured vigil, dreaming I 
awoke, and slowly then bethought me 
whence I came and what I was, and asked 
instinctively, "Where am I?" And a 
gentle voice, in tones more musically soft 
than those the wind elicits from Aeolian 
harp or lute, made answer, "Brother, 
thou art by my side, by me, thy guardian 
angel, who have watched thy footsteps 

24 



A Disembodied Spirit 25 

from the wicked gate of life, and now am 
here to tend thy pathway home." 

I turned to see who spoke, and being 
turned I saw two overshadowing wings 
that veiled the unknown speaker. Slowly 
they disclosed a form of light, which 
seemed to rest on them, so, to compare 
the things of earth and heaven, as rests 
the body of the bird which men call for 
delight the bird of paradise, upon its 
waving feathers poised in the air, feath- 
ers, or rather clouds of golden down, with 
streamers thrown luxuriantly out in all 
the wantonness of winged wealth. Not 
otherwise behind that angel waved his 
pinions tremulous with starry light, then 
dropped close-folded to his radiant side, 
but, folded or diffuse, with equal ease 
buoyant he floated on the obedient air. 
The very sight was melody; such grace 
flowed in his lightest motion. Save his 
wings the form was human in the spring 



26 A SouVs First Day in Heaven 

of youth ; his flowing robes were as white 
as if woven of the beams that fall on the 
untrodden snow. Again he spoke to me 
and said, "Before yon hills have caught 
the Eastern glow of the morning sun, we 
are expected at heaven's golden gate." 

"The road is long, but swifter than 
the beams of morning is the angelic con- 
voy sent to escort thee home. Myself thy 
guide and with me other two, who on their 
hands shall bear thee as they bore blessed 
Lazarus into his Father's bosom, ready 
stand waiting our summons. But before 
We set forth, brother, rise and look around 
upon the battlefield, where thou hast 
fought the fight of faith." Immediately, 
I arose and gazed around, myself invisi- 
ble. O, sights surpassing utterance, when 
the mists that veiled that border land 
of heaven, earth and hell dispersed, or 
rather when my eyes became used to the 
mysteries unseen ! As I gazed, questions 



A Disembodied Spirit 27 

innumerable rose to my lips as waters to 
a fountain's brim. But I was mute with 
wonder ; and my guide, responding quick 
to my unspoken thoughts, said, "Brother, 
I will tell thee all by and by; but now 
come take a final glance of love upon thy 
earthly home, and we must then begin 
our upward flight." 

I followed where he led. Is it my home, 
my widow ed, desolate and orphan home ? 
O, hush ! over every child an angel bent, 
nor was the nurse the only one who 
watched the cradle of my sleeping babe. 
My wife had stolen to our silent chamber 
back, and knelt in tears beside my life- 
less clay, and over her stood a seraph, 
watching her with wondrous tenderness 
and love. "Enough, enough," I an- 
swered, "all is w^ell; I leave her in the 
hands of God: arise, let us be going." 
And at my words the spirit who watched 
beside her looked upon me a look of ten- 



28 A SouVs First Day in Heaven 

der gratitude and wavedlhis hand in token 
of a short farewell. And I was now 
aware of two who stood beside me, courier 
angels, winged for speed: twin brothers 
they appeared, so like their mien, so like 
their garments dipped in rainbow hues; 
they bent on me the beauty of their smile, 
and singing as they took my hand in 
theirs, "Home, brother, home," unclosed 
their wings of light ; and we, our guardian 
angel leading us the way, set forth upon 
the road to Paradise. 



Chapter VII 

The Flight to Heaven 

Smooth, easy and swifter than the winds 
of heaven was our flight. In the twink- 
Hng of an eye we brushed the mantle of a 
silver cloud that floated in mid sky. Like 
flames of fire we mounted upward, for a 
while within the limits of the mighty 
shadow cast from the earth's solid globe 
athwart the heavens. But soon emerg- 
ing from its gloom, we saw the sun un- 
clouded, but its disc reduced half its for- 
mer radiance, — faint in warmth, feeble 
in light, and lessening every league. I 
was now aware that the pathway which we 
climbed was no longer a solitary track, 
rather a mighty highway of the heavens : 
For other travelers, angels they seemed, 
were passing to and fro unweariedly, on 
manifold errands of love. Some swept 

29 



30 A SouVs First Day in Heaven 

by us, swift as lightning, on their road 
from Paradise to earth, and others, so- 
journing the way we went, in groups of 
light, bore in their hands, like my angelic 
guard, a weary pilgrim to his home of 
rest. Of some the flight was slow : but 
when I looked, the spirit they carried was 
in chains, and all his stricken lineaments 
bespoke despair. And still the path be- 
came more thronged and shone with liv- 
ing meteors, so as to compare the things 
of sight and faith, at midnight when a 
rose-blush as of morning seems to steal 
across the northern firmament, with jets 
of ardent flame and undulating light in- 
cessant. On our right band and on our 
left the stars sang Alleluia, as we passed 
now in the splendor of some nearer orb, 
whether a satellite or blazing sun, and 
now within the twilight interval they lay 
betwixt their vast domains. But I, solici- 
tous regarding those whose look of woe 



The Flight to Heaven 31 

once seen was ineffaceable, asked my 
guide, "Are those prisoners, whose slower 
course we pass continually, angelic, or 
lost spirits of human births ? And where- 
fore are they on this road with us ?" And 
he replied, his words were grave but calm, 
"They are the disembodied souls of men 
who lived and died in sin." Just then I 
looked and before us lay a sphere gilded 
with clouds, and glorious with illuminated 
lights and shadows mingled. Momently 
it grew dilated, as with undiminished 
speed we outstripped lightnings in our 
homeward path, until in vain I toiled to 
mark the line of its horizon. Boundless 
it appeared as space itself, a nether sea 
of mist unfathomable, shoreless, infinite. 
Thither our pathway led. But, as we 
neared its extreme confines, I beheld what 
seemed a defile in those mountainous 
clouds, a chasm whence issued floods of 
radiance, pure, white light, and rainbow 



32 A Soul's First Day in Heaven 

tints, roseate, and gold and blue. Unpar- 
alleled on earth : though he who sees the 
virgin snow upon the Alps suffused with 
blushes underneath the first salute of 
morning, sees the shadow of this light. 
This was the gorgeous avenue which led 
straight to the gates of bliss — a pass to 
which the grandest and most sublime on 
earth, from Cabul to the sunny plains 
of Ind, were but a miner's arch. The 
massive sides, massive they seemed, of this 
ravine were built of clouds which ever 
hung there indispersed, and caught on 
every vaporous fold and skirt the glory 
of the sportive rays that streamed forth 
from the happy paradise beyond innu- 
merable. But before we passed under the 
radiant canopy, I saw another road far- 
stretching on our left into the outer dark- 
ness vast and void, and from its depths 
methought I faintly heard the sighings 
of despair. There was no time now for 



The Flight to Heaven 3S 

mute surprise or question. On we flew, 
as shoots a vessel laden with the wealth of 
Ceylon's Isle or Arabia the blest, right 
onward, every sailyard bent with wind, 
into her longed for port, and now the 
air grew tremulous with heavenly melody. 
Far off at first it seemed, and indistinct, 
as swells and sinks the multitudinous roar 
of ocean ; but ere long the waves of sound 
rolled on articulate, and then I knew the 
voice of harpers harping on their harps. 
And lo, upon the extreme verge of cloud, 
as once at Eden's portals, there appeared 
a company of angels clothed in light, 
thronging the path or in the amber air 
suspense. And in the twinkling of an 
eye we were among them, and they clus- 
tered around and waved their wings, and 
struck their harps again for gladness: 
Every look was tenderness and every 
word was musical with joy. — "Welcome 
to heaven, dear brother, welcome home, 



34 A Soul's First Day in Heaven 

welcome forever to the Master's joy ! thy 
work is done, thy pilgrimage is passed." 

So sang they; and the vast defile of 
clouds re-echoed with the impulse of song 
and music, and the atmosphere serene 
throbbed with innumerable greetings. 
Sounds such as no mortal ear hath ever 
heard, save those who watched their flocks 
at Bethlehem, ravished my soul, and 
sights surpassing words, till ear and eye 
fulfilled with pure delight, I turned to 
my angel guide and said unconsciously, 
"It would be good to sojourn here !" But 
he, in tones of buoyant hope, replied, 
"Brother, thou shalt see greater things 
than these." 

On thru that mountainous defile of 
clouds, my guardian and his winged min- 
isters bore me with smooth, undeviating 
flight, and speed unslackened: round 
about us played our retinue of angels, 
carolling and harping as they flew: the 



The Flight to 'Heaven 35 

while an hour passed peradventure of 
terrestrial time, measuring in space 
leagues almost measureless, though trav- 
elers along that blissful road wished it 
were longer. But at last, aware of bright- 
er radiance circumfused, I looked far in 
the gleaming distance, and behold, bar- 
ring our onward course, were gates of 
translucent pearl, thru which the glory of 
heaven came softened in a thousand ten- 
der hues — distinguishable Iris, Chryso- 
lite, Sapphire, Emerald, and Sardius, 
and peerless Hyacinthine Amethyst. 

The deep foundation of those gates 
were sunk lower than thought may fath- 
om, and their top appeared to touch the 
empyrean's arch ; but at the echo of the 
harpers' song back with melodious sound 
they softly flew, as if themselves instinct 
with sympathies of welcome, and disclosed 
the scenes of bliss that lay beyond them, 
bathed in amber light. Through the 



36 A Soul's First Day in Heaven 

gates of pearl we passed, and on a ter- 
raced platform stood, which overlooked 
the realms of Paradise, and gazed a while, 
like Moses from the rocks of Pisgah on 
the promised land. O, scene surpassing 
words! Before me lay outstretched a 
garden far more large than if the earth, 
from pole to pole, from sunrise to sunset, 
bloomed with the countless roses of 
Cashmere. 



Chapter VIII 

The SouVs Arrival in Heaven 

Here first upon the threshold of those 
gates my heavenly escort paused. Here 
first I trod a pavement of transparent 
gold, and gazed upon that luminous ra- 
vine which brought us hither, in admir- 
ing marvel. 

Then I was certain that death's dark 
valley, death's chilly streams, death's gob- 
lin form and resistless spear were all for- 
ever passed. Yes, the thought of dying, 
the peculiarity of death, and the mys- 
tery which interlinked eternity and time, 
had all vanished, and I was home at 
last. 

All of my previous joy had been mixed 
with grains of suspense, fear, temptation, 
test and disappointment; but now, on 

37 



38 A Soul's First Day in Heaven 

reaching this world of day, and inhal- 
ing the buxom air that fans the tree of 
life, I drank my first cup of unmixed 

joy- 

Not until reaching this elevated point 
did I fully realize the absolute necessity 
of "Holiness." But on beholding a Holy 
God, Holy Angels, Holy Saints, and a 
Holy Heaven, I realized that it would 
have been absurd to think of entering 
such a place without being sanctified 
wholly. 

The mist of time had cleared away and 
I now saw even as I was seen ; and knew 
as also I was known. And though I had 
been in heaven but one moment, I in- 
stinctively comprehended and understood 
the mysteries of science, astronomy, 
gravitation, electricity, and the planets. 
Not only so but the soul, body and spirit 
of men, angels, heaven, hell, God and the 
devil. 



The Soul's Arrival in Heaven 39 

"Angel voices sweetly singing, 

Echoes thru the blue dome ringing. 
News of wondrous gladness bringing. 
Ah, 'tis heaven at last! 

"Sin forever left behind us; 

Earthly visions cease to blind us, 
Fleshly fetters cease to bind us — 
Ah, 'tis heaven at last! 

"On the jasper threshold standing. 

Like a pilgrim safely landing. 
See, the strange bright scene expanding! 
Ah, 'tis heaven at last!" 



Chapter IX 

Meeting Jesus 

We lighted; and my guardian with a 
smile of gladness which no thought of 
self obscured, turned to me, saying, 
"Brother, this is home : this is thy Sav- 
iour's rest. Go forth and meet thy Lord. 
Beneath the shade meantime we tarry 
for thee, while alone thou seest Him whom 
thou hast loved unseen. By yonder 
grassy bank." So they retired a little 
space aside, under the grateful shadow 
of those trees rich with ambrosial fruit; 
and ere my lips could utter thanks I found 
myself alone — alone and on my way to 
meet my Blessed Redeemer. The solitude 
was sweet. So many scenes of glory and 
unprecedented joy had crowded on my 
vision that I longed to gather and com- 
pose my thoughts awhile in meditation. 

40 



Meeting Jesus 41 

Such an interval of brief but blissful soli- 
tude the bride, left lonely on her bridal 
evening, feels to still the beating of a 
heart that beat too high with virgin bash- 
fulness and hope, ere she receives her 
spouse. And, as I trod those banks enam- 
eled with the freshest flowers, soothed 
with the gliding music which the stream 
of life made ever, brokenly from step 
to step communicating with myself I 
thought aloud. "And am I then in heaven ? 
This the Paradise of saints ? And is it I, 
myself, who speak ? The same who wan- 
dered in the desert far astray, till the 
Good Shepherd found me perishing, and 
drew me to Himself with cords of love.^^ 
Has He now brought me to His heavenly 
fold, which sin can never touch nor sor- 
row cloud, me who have watered with my 
frequent tears the thorny wilderness, and 
struggled on footsore and weary — me, 
the wayward one? 



42 A SouVs First Day in Heaven 

"And shall I never more from Him 
wander, or grieve His brooding Spirit 
again? O, joy ineffable ! But am I now 
about to meet Him, see Him face to face 
who made me, and who knows me what I 
am, of all His saints unworthiest of His 
love? Why beats this heart so tremu- 
lously? Why do thoughts within me 
rise? Is it not He who bought me with 
His blood? Hath He not led me on my 
journey hither step by step? Came He 
not to me at the hour of death, and whis- 
pered that my sins were all forgiven, and 
now hath sent His angels to convoy my 
spirit safely home, and welcome me with 
songs of Alleluia ? What is love, if this 
indissoluble bond that links me and my 
Lord forever be not love? His costly, 
precious, infinite, divine; mine human, 
limited, and mean, and poor, and yet His 
inward spirit whispers, true. For what 
were all this gorgeous Paradise, the music 



Meeting Jesus 43 

of these waters, and these bowers fra- 
grant with fruitage, what were all to me, 
and tenfold all, twice measured, without 
Him? Without Him heaven were but a 
desert rude ; with Him, a desert would be 
heaven. And art thou here, Jesus, my 
Lord, my light, my all?'' 

And as I spake I heard a gentle voice 
calling me by my name. I turned to see 
who called me; and lo, One wearing a 
form of human tenderness approached. 
Human He was, but love divine breathed 
in His blessed countenance, a love which 
drew me onward irresistibly persuasive: 
whether now He veiled His beams more 
closely than the hour His brightness 
shone around the prophet by Ulai's 
banks, and in that solitary Patmos smote 
prostrate to earth the Apocalyptic seer; 
or whether the Omnipotent Spirit of God 
strengthens enfranchised spirits to sus- 
tain more of His glory. I drew near to 



44 A Soul's First Day in Heaven 

Him, and He to me. O beatific sight! 
O vision with which nothing can compare ! 
The angel ministrant who brought me 
hither was exquisite in beauty, and my 
heart clave to his heart : the choristers of 
hght, who sang around our pathway, 
none who saw could choose but love for 
very loveliness. But this was diverse 
from all other sights. Not living only, it 
infused new life; not beauty alone, it 
beautified ; nor only glorious, for it glori- 
fied. For a brief space methought I 
looked on Him, and He on me. O blessed 
look ! how brief I know not, but eternity 
itself will never from my soul erase the 
lines of that serene transfiguring aspect. 
For a brief space I stood, by Him up- 
held, gazing, and then in adoration fell 
and clasped His sacred feet, while holy 
tears, such tears as disembodied spirits 
may weep, fliowed from my eyes. But 
bending over me, as bends a mother over 



Meeting Jesus 45 



her waking babe, He raised me tenderly, 
saying, "My child.'' And I, like Thomas 
on that sacred eve, could only answer 
Him, "My Lord, my God." And then 
He drew me closer, and Himself with His 
own hand. His pierced hand of love, 
wiped the still falling tear-drops from my 
face, and told me I was His and He was 
mine. 

That hour for brevity a moment 
seemed; for benediction, ages. But at 
last solemnly He said, "The night is al- 
most spent, the morning is at hand. Fear- 
less meanwhile rest thou in peace. Thy 
guardian angel shall lead thee to those 
bowers of bliss where now thy parents 
and thy babes await my kingdom with 
the other Blessed dead," 



Chapter X 

The Beauty of Heaven 

"Burst, ye emerald gates and bring. 
To my raptured vision, 
All the ecstatic joys that spring 
Round the bright Elysian." 

Language Is inadequate to describe what 
then, with unveiled eyes, I saw. The 
vision is Indehbly pictured on my heart. 
Before me, spread out In beauty, was a 
broad sheet of water, clear as crystal, not 
a single ripple on its surface, and Its 
purity and clearness Indescribable. On 
each side of the lake or river rose up the 
most tall and beautiful trees, covered 
with all manner of fruit and flowers, the 
brilliant hues of which were reflected in 
the bosom of the placid river. While I 
stood gazing with joy and rapture at the 
scene, a convoy of angels was seen float- 
ing in the pure ether of that cloudless sky. 

46 



The Beauty of Heaven 47 

Beauty was sole monarch everywhere. 
Nor were there wanting hills with valley 
interspersed, and placid lakes and plains, 
and forests of cedars, fit for holy inter- 
course of friend with friend, and open- 
ing glades between. The rose and lily, 
fresh with fragrant dew, and every 
flower of fairest cheek, around me smil- 
ing flocked. And near the sacred hill 
upon w^hich I stood a streamlet walked, 
warbling the holy melodies of heaven, 
while the hallowed zephyrs brought me 
incense sweet. 

O happy home ! O happy pilgrims 
here ! O blissful mansion of our Father's 
house ! O walks surpassing Eden for de- 
light! here are the harvests reaped once 
sown in tears : here is the rest by ministry 
enhanced : here is the banquet of the wine 
of heaven, riches of glory incorruptible, 
crowns, amaranthine crowns of victory, 
the voice of harpers harping on their 



48 A SouVs First Day in Heaven 

harps, the anthems of the holy cheiiibmi, 
the crystal river of the Spirit's joy, the 
Bridal place of the Prince of Peace, the 
Holiest of Holies — God is here. 



Chapter XI 

Th€ Land Where Beauty Nei^er Dies 

Beyond these chilly winds and gloomy skies. 

Beyond death's cloudy portal. 
There is a land where beauty never dies. 

And love becomes immortal! 

A land whose light is never dimmed by shades. 

Whose fields are ever vernal. 
Where nothing beautiful can ever fade, 

But blooms for age eternal. 

We may not know how sweet its balmy air, 
How bright and fair its flowers. 

We may not hear the songs that echo there, 
Thru those enchanted bowers. 

The city's shining towers w^e may not see 

With our dim, earthly vision. 
For death, the silent warden, keeps the key 

That opens these gates Elysian. 

O, land of love! O, land of light divine! 

Father, All wise, Eternal! 
Guide me, O guide these wandering feet of 
mine 

Into those gates Supernal! 



49 



Chapter XII 

The Supreme Glory of Heaven 

It is to the substance, of which all earthly 
good is but a hint. It is to the glory, of 
which all beauties here are but a shadow. 
It is to a joy, of which all sordid joy is 
but a mockery, all human joy is but a 
dream. It is to a rest, of which all rest 
below is but a glimmer. It is to music, 
of which all melody within these hearts 
is but a fluttering cadence, a mournful 
stanza, dying on the wind — a faltering 
echo in the barren rocks. It is to a home, 
of which all earthly homes are only can- 
vas daubs and tantalizing touches. It is 
to a day for which all other days were 
made. It is to a Sabbath, of which the 
balmiest Sabbath is an emblem, a fra- 
grance spent upon the air. It is a city, 
to which the grandeur of all earthly cities 

50 



Supreme Glory of Heaven 51 

is as the glow of cinders in an ashy heap. 
It is to a liberty, a franchise, before which 
all citizenship on earth is bondage and a 
dungeon doom. It is to worship, of which 
all other worship is but as the chattering 
of parrots, chattering human speech. It 
is to a life, for which all other life is but 
a bubble breath, a fleeting sigh. It is 
God's own house. O, summerland of the 
soul! land of beauty, land of flowers, 
land of love ! 



Chapter XIII 

Meeting Loved Ones 

The track was long soliciting our 
stay; the time was briefer than my 
words. And lo, a valley opened on our 
sudden gaze pre-eminently beautiful and 
bright amid that bright world of beauty. 
But straightway, or even I could utter 
words of praise, voices familiar as my 
mother tongue fell on me ; and an infant 
cherub sprang, as springs a sunbeam to 
the heart of flowers, into my arms, and 
murmured audibly, "Father, dear fa- 
ther ;'' and another clasped my knees, and 
faltered the same name of power. One 
look sufiiced to tell me they were mine, 
my babes, my blossoms, my long parted 
ones ; the same in feature and in form as 
when I bent above their dying pillow 
last, only their spirits were now disrobed 

52 



Meeting Loved Ones 53 

of flesh, and beaming with the likeness of 
their Lord. And when I saw my little 
lambs unchanged, and heard them fondly 
call me by my name, "Then is the bond 
of parent and of child indissoluble," I 
exclaimed, and drew them closer to my 
heart and wept for joy. But other voices 
of familiar love, and other forms of light 
reminded me by the deep yearnings of 
my soul I was myself not only a father^ 
but a child ; nor child alone, but brother, 
pastor and friend. How often had I 
longed in dreams of the night, or medita- 
tive solitude, to see the beaming sunshine 
of my father's smile, which ever seemed 
to me a reflex joy cast from God's smile ; 
or haply oftener yet my mother's face of 
fond solicitude, — solicitous for all except 
herself. They were before me now. Nor 
they alone : betwixt them leant a slender 
seraph form, my sister's spirit, who with 
frailest bark year after year had stemmed 



54 A SouVs First Day in Heaven 

the wildest sea, pain, conflict, cloud and 
utter weariness, till the last billow, almost 
unawares, on its rough bosom bore her 
into rest. And can this be that waved- 
tossed voyager, this she? 

Radiant with beauty and with bloom, 
as if the past had written on her brow its 
transcript in those shades of pensive 
grace and breathing sympathy, wherein 
remained nothing of sadness, all of saint- 
liness, she stood and looked on me a mo- 
ment, saying, ^^My brother, it is he!" 
and on my neck she fell ; nor arms alone 
were interlocked in that embrace. And 
then the pent-up thoughts of many years 
flowed from our eager lips, as waters 
from a secret spring unsealed. I was no 
stranger there; but rather as one who, 
travel-worn and weary, weary of wander- 
ing thru many climes, at length returning 
homeward, eyes far off^ the white clifl^s of 
his fatherland and ere the laboring ship 



Meeting Loved Ones 55 

touches its sacred soil leaps on the pier, 
while on him crowding press children, 
kith and friends, who in a breath ask of 
his welfare, and with joyous tongues pour 
all their love into his thirsty ear. Such 
welcome home was mine; such question- 
ings of things that had befallen me since 
last we met, and on my pathway thither- 
wards, and of the dear ones I had left 
behind: — words with embraces inter- 
spersed. 

And then, taking my hands exultingly 
in theirs, and singing for delight, they 
led me on adown that heavenly valley. 
Straight towards a river bank they bent 
their steps, shaded by trees of life, whose 
pendant boughs, fanned by soft gales, 
and laden with fresh fruit, dipped in the 
living waters. Every step some fondly 
loved, familiar face was seen, whom I had 
known in pilgrim days, unchanged. 

So passed we on, and lo, a group of 



56 A Soul's First Day in Heaven 

the beatified advanced to meet us, on 
whose lips methought, hushed to a whis- 
per for delight, I heard the strange salute 
of "father.'' In amaze I asked what 
meant such gratulation there ? And one 
for many answered, "From thy mouth we 
heard of Jesus' love, and thine the hand 
that led us to His feet." It was enough : 
for all the parent and the pastor woke 
within me ; all the holy memories of by- 
gone days flowed in a refluent tide over 
my soul once more. Some I had known 
from rosy dawn of childhood, and had 
watched their hearts like buds beneath a 
cottage wall unfolding to the sunshine of 
God's love. But now arrived upon that 
river bank whose lucid waves were shaded 
by the trees of life, along its marge in 
loose array we wandered, saints and an- 
gels, hand in hand, the children dancing 
in their innocent glee, and showering 
roses round our steps. 



Chapter XIV 

Pursuits in Heaven 

Pursuits are various here, suiting all 
taste, though holy all and glorifying 
God. Obsei*\^e yonder band pursuing the 
sylvan stream, mounting among the 
cliffs ; they pull the flowers, springing as 
soon as pulled, and, marveling, pry into 
its veins, and circulate blood, and won- 
drous mimicry of higher life ; admire its 
colours, fragrance, gentle shape; and 
thence admire the God who made it so — 
so simple, complex and so beautiful. 

Behold yonder other band in airy robes 
of bliss. They wave the sacred bower of 
rose and myrtle shade, and shadowy ver- 
dant bay, and laurel, towering high ; and 
round their song the pink and lily bring, 
and amaranth, narcissus sweet, and jessa- 
mine; and bring the clustering vine, 

57 



58 A SouVs First Day in Heaven 

stooping with flower and fruit, the peach 
and orange, and the sparkhng stream, 
warbHng with nectar to their lips un- 
asked ; and talk the while of everlasting 
love. 

On yonder hill behold another band, 
of piercing, steady, intellectual eye, and 
spacious forehead of sublimest thought. 
They reason deep of present, future, 
past; and trace effect to cause. . . . 
These other, sitting near the tree of life, 
in robes of linen flowing white and clean, 
of holiest aspect, of divinest soul, angels 
and men — into the glory look of the 
Redeeming love, and turn the leaves of 
man's redemption over, the secret leaves, 
which none on earth were found worthy 
to open, and, as they read the mysteries 
divine, the endless mysteries of salvation 
wrought by God's incarnate Son, they 
humbly bow before the Lamb, and glow 
with warmer love. 



Pursuits in Heaven 59 

These other, there relaxed beneath the 
shade of yonder embowering palm, with 
friendship smile, and talk of ancient days, 
and young pursuits of dangers passed, 
of godly triumph won, and sing the 
legends of their native land, less pleasing 
far than this their Father's house. 

None are idle here, look where thou 
wilt, they all are active, all engaged in 
meet pursuit ; not happy else. Hence is 
it that the song of heaven is ever new; 
for daily thus and nightly new discoveries 
are made of God's unbounded wisdom, 
power and love, which give the under- 
standing larger room, and swell the hymn 
with ever-growing praise. 



Chapter XV 

Jottings from Heaven 

For years I looked upon death with a 
sense of dread, considering him a terri- 
ble monster, but now realize that he was 
only a messenger sent to notify me that 
my earthly task was finished and my 
mansion ready. 

I have only been In heaven a few hours, 
but during that time I have met so many 
great surprises. They are as follows: — 
1. There are many people I did not 
expect to see here. 2. I miss so many 
I expected to find here, and the great- 
est surprise of all Is that I myself am 
here. 

I am by no means a stranger here. I 
never felt more at home In all my life. 
Why, I am perfectly acquainted with 
every saint and angel here. I needed no 

60 



Jottings from Heaven 61 

introduction whatever; to see them was 
to know them. 

Heaven is called Paradise — a garden 
of fruits and flowers on which our spirit- 
ual natures and taste will be regaled thru 
one ever-verdant spring and golden sum- 
mer; a Paradise where lurks no serpent 
to destroy, and where fruits and flowers 
shall never fade, droop nor die. 

Heaven is a "Building'' that has God 
for its Maker, immortality for its walls, 
and eternity for its day. It is also a 
home. Oh, how sweet is that word ! What 
beautiful and tender associations cluster 
around it. Compared with it, house, man- 
sion and palace are cold, heartless terms. 
It quickens the pulse, w^arms the heart, 
stirs the soul to its depths, makes age 
feel young again. 

Heaven is a temple — "bright with the 
divine glory, filled with the divine pres- 
ence, streaming with the divine beauty, 



62 A Soul's First Day in Heaven 

and peopled with shining monuments of 
divine goodness, mercy and grace." It 
is also a City — "whose walls are jasper, 
whose streets are burnished gold, thru 
which flows the river of life.'' 

The state of eternal glory implies three 
things: — 1st." An absence of all suffer- 
ing, pain, sin and evil. 2nd. The pres- 
ence of all good, both of the pursuit and 
most exalted kind. And 3rd. The com- 
plete satisfaction of all the desires of the 
soul, at all times, and thru eternity, with- 
out the possibility of decreasing on the 
one hand, or of satiety on the other, or 
of any termination of the existence of the 
receiver or the received. 

In this beautiful world we wear crowns 
of gold, and enjoy the perpetual sight 
and visions of the Holy one ; for we 
always see him as he is. 

Heaven, too, is a vast country over 
whose wide regions we travel in all the 



Jottings from Heaven 63 

might of our untiring facilities, and in 
all the glow of new and heaven-born 
energies, discovering and gathering 
fresh harvests of intelligence, satisfac- 
tion and delight. 

In this land of fadeless day, good with- 
out the fear of evil beckons us, life with- 
out the fear of death embraces us, and 
pleasure without pain refreshes us. We 
have sunshine without sorrow, and music 
without discord. 

Quite often an elder saint stops by my 
mansion and tells me of the beauties here, 
and also of his journey home. At other 
times we cluster beneath the trees of 
life and talk of wonders passed until 
our hearts overflow with never failing 
love. 

This morning on entering heaven's 
gate I heard these words of welcome fall- 
ing from more than ten thousand times 
ten thousand flaming tongues: "Hail, 



64 A Soul's First Day in Heaven 

brother ! hail, thou son of happiness, 
thou son beloved of God, welcome to 
heaven, to bliss that never fades! thy 
day is passed of trial, and of fear to 
fall. Well done, thou good and faithful 
servant; enter now into the joy eternal 
of thy Lord." 

I also noticed standing just inside the 
gates of pearl an image fair, holding a 
mirror large and bright. This image 
was truth, immutable, eternal truth, in 
figure emblematical expressed. Before 
it virtue stands, and smiling sees, well 
pleased, in her reflected soul, no spot. 
There all new arrivals read their essen- 
tial worth ; and, as they read, they take 
their place among the just; or high, or 
low, each as his value seems. 

So perfect here is knowledge, and the 
string of sympathy so tuned, that every 
word that each to the other speaks, 
though never heard before, at once is 



Jottings from Heaven 65 



fully understood, and every feeling ut- 
tered, fully felt. 

The saints from every clime, with 
snowy robes and branchy palms, contin- 
ually surround the fount of life, and 
drink the streams of immortality, for 
ever happy and for ever young. 

In middle heaven remote, is seen the 
mount of God in awful glory bright. 
Within, no orb create of moon, or star, or 
sun, gives light; for God's own counte- 
nance, beaming eternally, gives light to 
all. But farther than these hills. His will 
forbids it flow, too bright for eyes be- 
yond. This is the last ascent of Virtue ; 
here all trial ends, and hope; here per- 
fect joy, with perfect righteousness, 
which to these heights alone can rise, 
begins, above all fall. 



Chapter XVI 

In the Temple 

The citizens here are quite different from 
those of earth ; they seem thoughtful yet 
cheerful. They carry about with them 
such dignity and repose, such peace and 
purity, as were never stamped on mor- 
tal's brow. The light of the city is very 
peculiar. It is not the light of the sun, 
for there is no dazzle; nor the light of 
the moon, for it is clear as noonday. It 
is an atmosphere of light — calm, lovely, 
and changeless. The mansions are not 
like palaces of earth. The people are all 
going one way today. They are entering 
an edifice more spacious and magnificent 
than mortal eye has ever beheld. It is 
not marble, but light, pure light, con- 
solidated into form, and within is a stair- 

6Q 



In the Temple 67 

case, all of light, which they are ascend- 
ing. 

As I stood wrapt in amazement one of 
the elders beckoned me to follow him, 
and he took me into this grand and capa- 
cious temple. It seemed to be built of 
the finest alabaster, with columns of crys- 
tal, richly decorated. The interior was 
arranged like an amphitheater, and 
lighted up with a soft radiance. In the 
midst of it there was a throne, and He 
that sat on it was, to look upon, like jas- 
per and a sardine stone, and there was a 
rainbow round about the throne like unto 
an emerald. And around about the throne 
were four and twenty seats ; and upon 
the seats were four and twenty elders sit- 
ting, clothed in white raiment, and they 
had on their heads crowns of gold, and 
they fell down before Him that sat on 
the throne, and worshipped Him that liv- 
eth for ever and ever, and cast their 



6S A SouVs First Day in Heaven 

crowns before the throne, saying, "Thou 
art worthy, O Lord, to receive glory and 
honor and power ; for thou hast created 
all things, and for thy pleasure they are 
and were created." And I saw a great 
multitude which no man could number, of 
all nations, and kindreds, and people, and 
tongues. Then He who sat on the throne 
broke the bread of eternal life, and gave 
it to the saints, they also drank of the 
living water which proceeded out of the 
throne of God and the Lamb. He then 
unfolded unto them the grand mysteries 
of redemption, and every heart was 
thrilled with rapture. The assembly then 
rose, and from twice ten thousand times 
ten thousand voices rolled the new song, 
blended with the seven thunders which 
uttered their voices, subdued by the har- 
monious strains of myriads of golden 
harps, and supported by the majestic 
roaring of the beasts that guard the 



Iji the Temple 69 

throne of the Infinite. At the close of 
the grand oration there stood up a per- 
son most glorious to look upon, and said, 
'*As I look upon this great multitude my 
joy is indescribable. I know that it was 
thru my disobedience that sin entered into 
the world, but I rejoice that to me was 
giyen the promise that the seed of the 
woman should biniise the serpent's head. 
And when the fullness of time was come, 
God sent forth His Son bom of a woman 
— made under the law — ^that we might re- 
ceiye the adoption of sons. To Him who 
has redeemed us to God by His own blood, 
we would ascribe all the praise." When 
he had thus spoken, there arose a multi- 
tude of harpers, who sang with perfect 
harmony the song of Moses and the 
Lamb. 



Chapter XVII 

A Testimony Meeting in Heaven 

When the multitude of harpers had 
ceased singing the song of Moses and the 
Lamb the meeting was thrown open for 
testimony. They testified as follows: 
Abel rose and said : "Dear brethren, you 
are all aware that there was a period 
when no human spirit stood before this 
throne. Seraphim and cherubim with 
folded wings and veiled faces were the 
only worshippers in this temple. When I 
arrived I found no redeemed spirit here, 
none who had wept, none who had suf- 
fered, none who had died. I was a 
stranger from a strange world. Here I 
stood pouring out my lonely song unto 
Him that loved me and washed me from 
my sins in His own blood. Though I 
was the first to taste the bitter pains of 

70 



Testimony Meeting in Heaven 71 

death, I was more than recompensed for 
all I suffered when I found myself in the 
presence of my Saviour ! Happy change !" 
He paused, and the whole assembly cried 
with a loud voice, "Blessing and honor 
and glory and power be unto Him that 
sitteth upon the throne, and unto the 
Lamb, for ever and ever." 

After this Enoch stood up and said: 
"I felt unspeakably happy while listen- 
ing to our illustrious brother. All of you 
except Elijah know what it is to die ; but 
he and I were translated to these heavenly 
mansions without seeing death. While 
on the earth it was my daily privilege to 
walk with God. One day, while meditat- 
ing upon His goodness and the joy of 
this celestial home, I felt a mysterious 
change pass over me. I was not, for 
God took me, and the next moment I 
found myself in this glorious city. In 
this respect I am more favored than you ; 



72 A Soul's First Day in Heaven 

but I know you will only consider it as 
an occasion for a song of more exalted 
praise,,'' to which the whole assembly re- 
sponded, "Amen! Alleluia! How great 
and marvelous are thy works, O Lord 
God Almighty! How just and true are 
thy ways, O King of Saints !" 

As soon as Enoch had done speaking 
Abraham rose and said, "Brethren, since 
coming to this beautiful land of light 
and love, I have fully realized the fact 
that it paid to turn from the last idol, 
and walk befone God with a perfect 
heart." 

After Abraham had taken his seat 
there was a brief silence, each saint being 
filled with holy admiration of the ways of 
Providence, and the method of divine 
grace. Then arose a person of imposing 
appearance. He came from the land of 
Uz, and was a most eminent man in his 
day, so that there was none like him in 



Testimony Meeting in Heaven 7S 

all the earth. Addressing the assembly, 
he said, "Afflictions were my lot while on 
earth, but the days of my mourning are 
ended. Many and grievous were my trials, 
but I bore them with great patience. I 
was delivered for a time into the hands 
of Satan to prove my sincerity towards 
God, and to silence and to put to shame 
the false accuser of the brethren, as well 
as to show to all that came after me the 
blessedness of the man that endureth 
temptation. And no doubt the history of 
my trials was of use to you on your 
pilgrimage." 

After this I beheld another person rise 
from the midst of the enraptured throng, 
who said, "I was bom in the land of 
Egypt, when the posterity of Israel was 
in the most oppressed and afflicted state. 
The days of my pilgrimage were cut 
short, and I was summoned to the top of 
Pisgah, where I had a most enchanting 



74 A SouVs First Day In Heaven 

view of the land of promise, and died on 
the summit of that bleak mountain. There 
I exchanged mortality for immortality, 
ascended to these heavenly hills, and 
cheerfully resigned the earthly Canaan 
for a better and more enduring inherit- 
ance. To Him that sitteth upon the 
throne I would ascribe the glory." 

Elijah the Tishbite arose and said: 
"Most of you are doubtless acquainted 
with my translation. One day as brother 
Elisha and I passed onward in the open 
plain, pausing for a moment I turned 
and said to him : 

" ^I am now going to leave thee. What 
shall I do for thee before I go.'^' *Let,' 
said he, ^a double portion of thy spirit 
fall upon me.' 'Well,' I replied, 'if thou 
seest me when I am taken away it shall 
be so.' While in conversation, I heard a 
rushing sound in the air, and looked up. 
I beheld an object like a falling star. 



Testimony Meeting in Heaven 75 

bright and fearful, cleaving the fields of 
space, and a chariot and horses of fire 
drew up between me and Elisha. I as- 
cended to heaven in the chariot. The 
transition was sudden, yet glorious. As 
I drew near this Holy City, new joys 
beamed upon my soul. The romantic 
scenery of the Holy Land, in the wild 
pomp of mountain majesty, sank into lit- 
tleness and distance as I rode upwards. 
I uttered no farewells to fields and foun- 
tains, but lost in heaven's opening glory, 
dissolved in the strong atmosphere of 
eternity, I could not cast one reluctant 
look on the scene from which I was 
snatched by everlasting love." 

Elijah had no sooner sat down than 
Elisha arose and remarked: "My life, 
as you have perceived, had its lights and 
shades. I had my nights of weeping and 
mornings of joy. My prophetic office 
did not exempt me from death. I, too. 



76 A SouVs First Day iti Heaven 

had to die ; but the anticipation of these 
higher joys awaiting me, oft filled me 
with unutterable rapture; and with 
sounds seraphic floating around me I 
walked thru the valley and the shadow of 
death, and joined the worshippers in this 
temple." 

When Elisha had sat down, I heard 
as it were a great multitude singing: 
"Alleluia! salvation, and glory, and 
honor, and power, unto the Lord our 
God." After this, there arose a person 
whose crown shone resplendently. "My 
name," said he, "is Lazarus, the beggar 
who used to sit at the rich man's gate. 
In consequence of my physical infirmity, 
I was necessitated to sit by the wayside 
and at the gates of the affluent, asking 
alms. 

"I saw the rich arrayed in purple and 
fine linen, and faring sumptuously every 
day, whilst I, the servant of the Most 



Testimony Meeting in Heaven 77 



High, was dependent on the charity of 
othei^. I often tried to reconcile these 
things, but found them inexplicable : nev- 
ertheless, in the midst of all my poverty, 
I felt a joy to which many who moved in 
the hio:her circles of life were strangers. 
The Lord was pleased to cut short the 
days of my pilgrimage. I remember the 
last of my begging days. The night 
shades were gathering around the plains 
of Jordan, as I with great difficulty 
reached what I called my home. I crept 
beneath the torn canvas of my tent, and 
la.y down to rest, being conscious that my 
last appeal for the bread that perisheth 
had been made. Though the presence of 
no earthly friend cheered me as I walked 
thru the shadow of death, I felt the rod 
and staff of God's promise and power 
sustaining me, so that I was enabled to 
exclaim, ''I will fear no evil." As I came 
near to this celestial city, I felt the heaven- 



78 A SouVs First Day in Heaven 

ly breezes fan my brow, and its raptures 
thrill my soul ; and lo ! and behold, there 
appeared a host of shining ones at the 
gates, who, on wings of fire, bore down 
toward me, in their arms brought me 
here, where the surroundings which made 
my earthly cup so bitter are unknown." 
After this another person arose, who 
held in his hand a palm branch, and he 
said, "I was born and brought up among 
a band of Jew ish thieves, and all my life 
was spent in theft and robbery, and for 
my crimes I was crucified. But there 
hung another beside me, and as my life 
was slowly ebbing out, I cried, 'Lord, 
remember me when Thou comest into Thy 
Kingdom,' and he smiled upon me thru 
His mortal pain, and said : 'Today shalt 
thou be with me in Paradise.' And ever 
since that day I have been serving Him in 
His temple. Here hymning His high 
and worthy praise in swelling chorus with 



Testimony Meeting in Heaven 79 

His own ransomed children — here wear- 
ing the robe in which he clothed me — the 
crown with which He crowned me; and 
singing as I always mean to sing: ^Now 
unto Him who hath loved me, and washed 
me from my sins in His blood, to Him be 
glory and dominion for ever and ever.' '' 
He had no sooner sat down than the 
whole congregation sang with a loud 
voice : "Alleluia ! for the Lord God Om- 
nipotent reigneth !" Deeper and deeper 
still rolled the mighty chorus from the 
millions assembled beneath the sapphire- 
lighted dome : and ere the sound of voices 
and instruments had died away, there 
arose a woman, Mary Magdalene by 
name, arrayed in snowy robes, and wear- 
ing a chaplet of amaranths and gold, and 
cried, "All glory and praise to the Lamb 
of God, who became poor to make me 
rich, who stooped so low to lift me so 
high!" 



80 A SouVs First Day in Heaven 

At that moment, ten thousand times 
ten thousand redeemed saints took up 
their harps of gold and sang with flaming 
tongues, the story of "Redeeming Love." 



Chapter XVIII 

A New ArrivaVs Evenmg Oration 

Harp of eternity! begin the song, re- 
deemed and angel harps ! begin to God, 
begin the anthem ever sweet and new 
while I extol Him, holy, just and good. 
Life, beauty, light, intelligence, and love 
eternal, uncreated, infinite! Unsearch- 
able Jehovah! Thyself unmade, ungov- 
emed, unimpaired ! Bounding immensity, 
unspread, unbound ! Highest and best ! 
beginning, middle, end ! All-seeing eye ! 
all-seeing and unseen ! hearing and un- 
heard ! all-knowing and unknown ! Above 
all praise! above all height of thought! 
Proprietor of immortality ! glory inef- 
fable ! bliss underived ! upon thy glorious 
throne thou sits alone, hast sat alone, and 
shall forever sit alone. Invisible, Immor- 
tal One ! Behind essential brightness un- 

81 



82 A SouVs First Day in Heaven 

beheld. Incomprehensible! what weight 
shall weigh, what measure measure Thee ? 
What know we more of Thee, what need 
to know more than thou hast taught, and 
bids us still repeat, at morn and eve? — 
God! Everlasting Father! Holy One! 
Our God! Our Father! Our Eternal 
All! source from whence we came, and 
whither we return ; who made our spirits, 
who our bodies made, who made the heav- 
ens, who made the flowery land, who made 
all made, who orders, governs all, who 
w^alks upon the wind ; who holds the waves 
in the hollow of thy hand, whom thun- 
ders wait, whom tempest serves, whom 
flaming fires obey, who guides the circuit 
of the endless years, and sits on high, and 
makes creations top thy footstool, and 
beholdest below Thee, all — all naught, 
all less than naught, and vanity. Like 
transient dust that hovers in the scale, 
ten thousand worlds are scattered in thy; 



New ArrivaVs Evening Oration 83 

breath. Thou sits on high and meas- 
urest destinies, and days, and months, 
and wide-revolving years; and dost ac- 
cording to Thy Holy will : and none can 
stay Thy hand, and none withhold thy 
glory ; for in judgment, Thou, as well as 
mercy, art exalted, day and night. Past, 
present and future magnify thy name. 

Thy works all praise Thee, all thy 
angels praise, Thy saints adore, and on 
Thy altar burns the fragrant incense of 
perpetual love. They praise Thee now, 
their hearts, their voices praise, and swell 
the rapture of the glorious song. 

Harp ! lift thy voice on high ! shbut, 
angels, shout ! and loudest, ye redeemed. 
And those who stood upon the sea of glass, 
and those who stood upon the battlements 
and lofty towers of New Jerusalem, and 
those who circling stood, bowing afar, 
exalted on the everlasting hills, thousands 
of thousands, thousands infinite, with 



84 A Soul's First Day in Heaven 

voice of boundless love, answered, Amen. 
And thru eternity near, and remote, the 
worlds, adoring, echoed back, Amen. And 
God the Father, Son and Holy Ghost, 
the One Eternal, smiled superior bliss! 
And every eye, and every face in heaven, 
reflecting and reflected, beamed with love. 
Meantime the landscape glowed with 
holy joy. Zephyr, with wings dipped 
from the well of life, sporting thru Para- 
dise, shed living dew; the flowers, the 
spicy shrubs, the lawns, refreshed, 
breathed their selected balm, breathed 
odors such as angels love; and all the 
trees of heaven, the cedar, pine, and ever- 
lasting oak, rejoicing on the mountain, 
clapped their hands. 



Chapter XIX 
His Inquisition to the Reader 

Shall, we meet In glory's morning, 

After time's dark, gloomy night ? 
Shall we hail its radiant dawning. 

Scattering sorrow with its light? 
Shall we meet where all time's shadows 

To oblivion flee away? 
Shall we meet amid the brightness, 

Of an everlasting day ? 

Shall we meet in this bright city, 

Where the towers of crystal shine. 
Where the walls are all of jasper, 

Built by workmanship divine ? 
Where the music of the ransomed 

Rolls in harmony around, 
And creation swells the chorus, 

With its sweet melodious sound. 
85 



86 A SouVs First Day in Heaven 

Shall we meet by life's pure river, 

Where pellucid waters glide? 
Where the healing leaves and flowers 

Deck the shores on either side ? 
Where salvation's blessed harpings 

Float in holy melody ? 
Where the monthly fruits are ripening 

On life's fair immortal tree? 

Shall we meet with many a loved one, 

That was torn from our embrace ? 
Shall we listen to their voices, 

And behold them face to face? 
All the cherished and the longed for. 

Those whose graves are moist with 
tears ? 
Those whose absence made life weary, 

Thru the dark and tedious years ? 



Humpbrcv*$ 
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Sermons That Never Die 75 

The Lost Soul's First Day in 

Eternity 50 

A Vivid Description of Sin's By- 
paths for Young People 50 

Dew Drops from the Rifted 

Clouds 40 

Ready Arrows for Gospel 

Workers 35 

Spicy Pocket Sermons from the 

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Stepping Stones to Ancient 

Piety. (In preparation) 

Revival Fire in Song (with 
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Railroad Sermons from Railroad 

Stories 25 

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